Democracy’s Discontent.
Questions for the Political Philosophy of Our Times
As the era of liberal democracies and the social democratic century wanes, with communist regimes now a distant memory, political life is marked by discontent, dissatisfaction, and protest by the many against the few. Many feel alienated from the elite, while both the working and middle classes—once pillars of democracy, social cohesion, and shared civic values—worry about economic marginalization.
Discontent once expressed through unions, organized pluralism, and democratic parties led to negotiations that addressed or contained grievances. Today, however, we face radical polarization, widespread political rejection, disillusionment with democracy, and the growing appeal of fundamentalist, extremist, and anti-liberal views.
Efforts to restore public life and past social negotiations to address crises like wages, housing, health, and security no longer seem as effective. Fears related to wages and other costs have increased everywhere, with growing demographic concerns, especially in Europe. The political and economic elite’s failure to respond is seen as deafness, arrogance, or incompetence, while inequalities between the wealthy few and the struggling many continue to widen. This fuels social resentment, stagnates mobility, and undermines meritocratic ideals, leading to radicalized divisions that weaken democratic deliberation.
Political philosophy faces a major challenge in understanding why democracies, after their long rise, now seem to be heading toward decline. With classical frameworks of social conflict resolution – such as political parties, unions, and associations – no longer relevant, what new paradigm should we adopt to address the evolving conflict between the many and the few?
We aim to answer these questions by inviting philosophers, political theorists, sociologists, and historians to participate in an international seminar at the Venice International University, on the Island of San Servolo, from May 29 to 31, 2025, as part of a weekly summer school series starting Monday, May 26.
The summer school
The summer school will take place over the first three days before the conference (i.e. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) and it will end with a two-and-a-half day conference. Sessions will take place over a full day (9am to 6pm).
If you are interested in applying to the summer school, click here.